Track structure.



W. H. WHARRAN L G. T. MAXON. TRACK STRUCTURE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1320.2, 1911.

l1907191 22, Patented Aug.26, 1913.

5mn/Mofas 'Villz'wml. Wharramf am] @bww/m Charles Z' Maon/ www.,

NTTE T @FETCH l7VILll'.|IA1V.[ I-I. WHARRAN AND CHARLES T. MAXON, OFSOUTH BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

TRACK STRUCTURE.

Application led December 2, 1911.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, lVnmmM H. 'Wr-mniAN and CHARLES T. MAXON, citizensof the United States, residing at Curtis Bay, South Baltimore, in thecounty of Anne Arundel and State of Maryland, have invented new anduseful lfmprovements in Track Structures, of which the following is aspecification. u

This invention relates to track structures, and has for an object toprovide means wherein the rails of the track will be positively heldVagainst spreading.

Another object of the invention is to provide a track structure whereinthe rails will be effectively held against pulling away from the ties.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby therails of the track can be adjusted relatively to insure accuracy intheir association throughout the length of the track.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in whichlike numerals lof reference indicate similar' parts in the severalviewsz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a track structure constructedin accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a sec-- tion on line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The improvement is designed for use in connection with ordinary woodenties, which are indicated by the numerals 1.

The numerals 2 designate flat metallic wear-plates which are of asubstantially rectangular formation and which are of a lesser width andlength than the ties 1 upon which they are adapted to be arranged.

As is well known in track construction, the wooden ties are hastily laidand are not at all times arranged at a perfect right angle to the railswhich they support, the width of the tie being sufiicient to insure theproper spiking of the rails upon the tie regardless of the fact that thesaid tie is not arranged at the proper right angle to the rails. Withour device, however, it is essential 'that the plates 2 be laid at adirect right angle to the rails, in order that the chairs (hereinafterdescribed) may properly engage with the opposite sides of the rails. Wetherefore provide each of the plates 2 with a central opening for thereception of a securing element, whereby the plate is medially connectedwith the tie, and

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

whereby when the tie is not arranged at a Patented Aug. 26,1 913.

Serial No. 663,609.

perfect right angle to the rails, the said plate may be swung or rotatedupon its pivot from either of its ends to arrange the plate at a perfectright angle to the rails. The rails rest upon the plates 2, and the saidplates each have their longitudinal edges beveled from its top inwardlytoward its bottom, and thus the ties 1, when the plates 2 are arrangedthereon, are each provided with what may be termed a dove-tailedmetallic projection.

In conjunction with the plates 2 we employ chair members et which arearranged for slidable movement upon the plates, as will hereinafter bemore fully described. These chairs include the inner members 5 and theouter plates G. rThe outer members are provided with horizontal bottomflanges 7 and the flanges 8. The flanges S extend over the base flangesof the rails and their upper longitudinal surfaces are located directlybeneath the ball of the rails. The inner members of each of the chairsare provided with the base flanges S) and the flanges 10. The flanges 9are arranged in the same general plane with the lianges 7 and saidflanges 7 and 9 are disposed beneath the rails, as clearly shown in Fig.1 of the drawing. The flanges 10 of the inner me1nbers 5 are extendedover the inner base flanges of the rails for effective clampingengagement therewith.

From the construction described it will be seen that the chairs of onerail can be adjusted with respect to the chairs of the other rail sothat both rails can be accurately positioned relatively throughout thelength of the track. rThe members 5 and 6 of the chairs are providedwith passages 11 through which the fastening spikes or the like 12 areadapted to be extended and engaged with the ties to hold the chairs intheir adjusted positions. It will be further noted by reference to thedrawing that the spikes 12 are arranged adjacent the oppo sitelongitudinal edges of the plates 2, so that said spikes provide meansfor preventing the swinging movement of the plates 2 upon their pivots.The transverse grooves 13 in the members 5 and 6 of the rail chairs areof dovetail configuration and the walls 14 of these grooves are adaptedto underlie the inclined walls 15 of the plates 2, whereby the chairswill be positively held against pulling away from the ties.

The means whereby the companion rails of the track can be adjustedrelatively comprises spikes or fastening devices 1G which extendvertically from the plates 2, being 'preferably located adjacent to theends of the plates. These spikes have revolubly mounted t-hereon flat,rectangular or square members 17 any of the vertical sides 18 of whichmay be singly presented against the outer members 6 on the rail chairs.The edges or sides 18 of the members 17 are disposed in unequaldistances from the spikes so that four different adjustments of therails can be readily effected. The spikes 16 are of a sufficient lengthto extend through openings in the plates 2, provided for theirreception, as well as to enter the ties 1 so that the said spikes serveas additional means for effectively securing the plates upon the ties.

A joint element is employed for connecting the rail sections together,and as shown, this element includes the outer chair member 19 and theinner chair member 20. These chair members are provided with the aliningbase flanges 21 which are disposed beneath the base portions of therails. The inner chair member 20 is provided with a vertical flange 22which bears against the webs of the rail ends upon the inner sides ofthe rails. The chair member 19 is provided with a vertical flange 23which extends upwardly against the webs of the rail ends upon the outersides thereof. The flanges 22 and 23 are provided with alining passages24. These passages may be brought into registration with similarpassages 25 in the rail ends. Bolts 26 are passed through the passages24 and 25 for securely holding the rail ends operatively connected witheach other. The members 19 and 20 which comprises the joint 6 may besecured to the tie by the fastening spikes or the like 26. The

members 19 and 2O are formed with transverse grooves 27 to receive thedovetailed plate 2 of the tie on which the chair is mounted.

W'e claim:

1. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination with a woodentie, of a metallic plate centrally pivotallyjconnected with the tie andadapted to providea bearing sur face for the rails,rail chairsadjustably associated With the plate, means for securing the chairs uponthe plate and against movement with relation to the plate, and saidmeans adapted to be arranged adjacent the longitudinal edges of theplate to prevent the swinging movement of the plate upon its pivot.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination with a woodentie, of a metallic wear plate upon the tie providing a bearing surfacefor the rails, said plate being pivotally connected to the tie to permitof the swinging of the plate upon the tie, rail chairs associated withthe plate and longitudinally adjustable thereon, means cooperating withthe longitudinal edges of the plate and engaging with the tie forretaining the chairs in an adjusted position upon the rail and plate, arectangular fastening member adapted to abut with the outer faces of therail chairs, said member having an eccentrically arranged opening toprovide four separate abutting edges for the chair, and a spike passingthrough the opening and the plate to within the tie.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM I-I. TWI-IARRAN. CHARLES T. MAXON. l/Vitnesses:

Lno ROBERT M. RHOADES, JOHN SGHOENE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

